The latest American strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power competition in the polar region. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
